A massive military parade kicked off in Beijing on Wednesday morning to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

The parade got under way after President Xi Jinping reviewed the troops along Chang'an Avenue and thanking them for their hard work.

An air echelon flew over Tiananmen Square, escorting flags of the Communist Party of China, the People's Republic of China, and the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

Another echelon consisting of 26 helicopters followed in a formation that formed huge numerical shapes of 8 and 0, symbolising the 80th anniversary of the victory.

Three helicopters flew by with banners that respectively read "Justice prevails", "Peace prevails" and "The people prevail."

They were followed by the Army formation of the PLA Chinese People's Liberation -- made up by service members with expertise across a range of military specialties, including armour, infantry, artillery, air defence, reconnaissance, security, maintenance, and vehicle operation.

Formations of the PLA Navy, Air Force, and Rocket Force also showed off their impeccable marching skills.

The Air Force formation was composed of a unit whose predecessor took part in major battles against the Japanese during the war, led by the Communist Party, Xinhua reported.

Meanwhile, the PLA's Aerospace Force, Cyberspace Force and Information Support Force made their debut in the military parade through Tiananmen Square.

The formation of the People's Armed Police Force also took part, as did the banner formation, showcasing 80 honorary banners of the hero units of the resistance war against Japanese aggression.

At the end of the commemorations, 80,000 doves and 80,000 balloons were released into the sky over Tiananmen Square.

Seven J-10 aerobatic jets flew over the square to mark the end of Wednesday's V-Day military parade.

The echelon staged an aerial display of 14 colored smoke trails, symbolising the 14 years of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the bright prospects of 1.4 billion Chinese people striving for national rejuvenation. (Xinhua/RTHK)
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Last updated: 2025-09-03 HKT 10:45